Now Thank We All Our God!

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for allowing me to walk the catechist’s journey with you! I hope you have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving! My prayer takes the form of one of the most cherished Christian hymns, “Now Thank We All Our God!”

Now thank we all our God,
With heart, and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done,
In whom his world rejoices.
Who from our mother’s arms
Has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.O may this gracious God
Through all our life be near us!
With ever joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us;
Preserve us in his grace
And guide us in distress,
And free us from all sin,
Till heaven we possess.All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given,
The Son and Spirit blest,
Who reigns in highest heaven
Eternal Triune God,
Whom earth and heavn’n adore.
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.

Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.